2024 first-round draft pick DaRon Holmes II, the Denver Nuggets’ rookie combo big, viewed his current G League assignment as a vital opportunity to showcase his capabilities following his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered during the 2024 NBA Summer League. Standing at 6-foot-10, Holmes’s ability to space the floor, facilitate play, and defend positions him as a versatile piece for Denver’s future. Holmes spent his redshirt-rookie campaign recovering from the injury, while now as an active-rookie, he is balancing his rehabilitation with the Nuggets and on-court dominance for their G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. In an exclusive interview with HoopsHype at the G League Showcase, Holmes opened up about his recovery journey, Nikola Jokic’s mentorship, his theory on low-top shoes causing Achilles injuries, and more.

You are dominating with the Grand Rapids Gold while playing in the G League; what is fueling your success this season?

DaRon Holmes: It’s been a great experience. There are great players all around on our team and other teams. So I’ve just been having a great time overall. 

Does your play this season feel like vindication or a confidence boost after your injury?

DH: Yeah, like my goal and other guys’ goals, we’re just trying to show what we can do. And hopefully there’s an opportunity because of that. There are times in training camp when young guys like me don’t get viewed a lot because of our age or because of injuries, or youth. So hopefully this can showcase our skill set, so our coaches can see and other teams can see as well

Do you view the game differently now, and how has your mental approach evolved?

DH: My mental approach is a warm-up, the same way I was when I first got injured. Just to make sure I’m staying disciplined in those areas in general. And then when I go out there, just have fun and get my teammates involved and do things that I would do that would translate up top with the Nuggets as well.

Which specific Achilles surgery did you undergo, and was it similar to the ‘SpeedBridge’ procedure used by NFL players Aaron Rodgers and Cam Akers?

DH: I think it was just a standard surgery. Shout out to the doctors, shout out to the Nuggets organization, ’cause they did a very good job of making sure that I was healthy, doing it the right way, and working very hard, which we always do. 

You move like the injury never occurred. Are you feeling bouncier and better now than ever before?

DH: Yeah, I feel great. And that’s props to, like I said, the Nuggets organization. They’re really on top of it, saying to me about working hard and going in with an everyday approach to get better with it. 

How has Nikola Jokic’s mentorship shaped your professionalism and understanding of the league?

DH: A lot is just to see how he approaches the game on and off the court. Off the court, just how he takes action on being a leader, just doing the right things. On the court, it’s about how he cuts, how he plays, how he gets other players involved. And that’s what I’m trying to do, be a playmaker, be able to get a lot of assists, but also play defense, play it all around as Jokic does. 

How did the pressure to keep your roster spot on a contender impact the mental and physical toll of rehab?

DH: Yeah, it can be a lot. Because as a rookie who tears its Achilles, you’ve got to stay positive all the time. You don’t want anybody to see you down. Luckily, I was able to talk to the old coaching staff and the new one. They both checked up on me and made sure I was OK. With the coaching change, it was pretty difficult because you never know what happens. And the same with the GM change, so it was all new to me. But I love all of our guys, and the coaches are great, the GMs here are great, so I’m enjoying it a lot. 

Did you lean on the veterans for guidance, or did you keep your questions to yourself?

DH: Our vets do a great job of keeping me involved. A lot of off-court stuff, the guys now, the guys last year, they do a great job with that. And that’s what I’m very thankful for. Because the coaches are always busy, they might not have time to come and talk to you. So that’s the hard part with this… realizing that they’re not gonna be able to baby or talk to you all the time. So that’s where you go to your vets, and they’re able to help you out. Our player development guys are like that, too. So I’m very grateful for them.

Did the development staff instruct you to increase your three-point shooting to space the floor for Jokic and Aaron Gordon?

DH: Yeah, you know, I think that’s part of my game that I’m doing pretty well right now. When you have a 6-foot-10 guy that can space the floor, I think it just adds to any team… but this team, especially with Jokic, who is the best player in the world. We have the greatest coaching staff, I think, in the NBA. So that’s just a plus. 

Did you tweak your shooting form during training, or is it just the result of more reps?

DH: Just trusting our guys and what they’re telling me. They’re telling me, hey, get out there. This is how you’re supposed to shoot. Get your shots up quick. This is how it’s gonna come in the game, and I’m translating that. I’m really thankful for all of them because of that stuff. All of them talk to me about quick actions, doing things quickly, and making quick decisions. So I’m very grateful for it.

Does the speed of pro guards force you to adjust your defensive angles and rim protection?

DH: Yeah, especially coming off of an Achilles injury, it can be kind of difficult because of the fast guards. But really, you have to just work on being there mentally, like you just said, like being better with your voice, being vocal, until that step comes back fully. So, yeah, it is very difficult. 

What specific feedback have the Denver Nuggets coaches given you on how to crack the rotation?

DH: Yeah, the GMs are telling me I’m doing a great job. I haven’t really heard from our coaches at all, but the GMs are telling me I’m doing well, staying the course, and doing the right thing. So hopefully the coaching staff can trust me and see how I’m playing. Hopefully, I’m able to get opportunities sometime soon.

What’s the biggest adjustment you’ve noticed in pro ball versus when you were in college?

DH: I would say the speed of the game and you have to like be able to forget about the past play, good or bad, be able to move on to the next play and be able to focus. Those things are very important. I feel like that’s like next play mentality. Don’t let the last one make it. They’re going to happen. Just obviously improve with everyone you do. 

What do you believe is causing the recent rise in Achilles injuries?

DH: I think it’s the low-top shoes to start off with. I think that’s the main thing. And then I think it’s the number of games we play. I tore mine kind of early when I was coming out of college. I had the process, the workout process, all that stuff. It’s just a bunch of running. It’s like you just gotta take proper care of it. So I think that’s the biggest thing. But really, I think it’s also the low top shoes, but that’s the cool trends right now. So it’s like a risk versus reward. 

Why do you believe low-top shoes pose a higher injury risk than high-tops?

DH: I still wear ’em, but I wear ankle braces. So it really just depends, but I remember the game; I think I was either wearing too much or not wearing anything at all. So you gotta make sure you take care of that part. But I think the low-tops have something to do with it, but everybody wants to wear them cuz they’re cool. So I wear them, so that’s what I think part of it is. 

Who are your top five players of all time?

DH: I got LeBron James at the one. Growing up, he was my favorite player ever. All my friends love him. I’ll put Michael Jordan at the two. Number three, I’ll go Larry Bird. I’ll say Tim Duncan and then I’ll go Nikola Jokic. I think Jokic is very slept on.

Who are your current top five players?”

DH: Jokic at number one, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander number two, LeBron’s still at number three. I don’t care about his age. I think he’s still the GOAT. Number four, I will say, I think Jamal Murray’s very slept on. And I like our guys, I’m going AG (Aaron Gordon). So those are our guys.

Who’s your GOAT? 

DH: My goat? Yeah, LeBron. And just because of the way he carries himself on and off the court, of all the hate he gets. Just like being Gen Z, a lot of us love LeBron, and we stand by i,t and we’re not really gonna take anything for it. So I think LeBron’s just the best player of all time. 

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